Migrating from Linux to Windows

[edge]

I currently have a Linux Plesk VPS with you and am thinking about switching over to a Windows VPS.

The main reason I am think about switching is because I am more familiar with Windows and it will be easier for me to configure and install software.

Another reason I want to send and receive XML from a supplier via Windows .NET applications.

The supplier requires a static ip address. So rather than me using a Linux Plesk VPS, and getting static DSL and running the applications on my computer, using SSH tunneling to access databases - I would rather do it all from one place and save money.

I would like to have Apache, PHP and MySQL in my Windows VPS. I don’t plan to use IIS at all.

So my questions are:
1. How difficult will it be to migrate over my emails? The websites and databases I am not too concerned with.
2. How will I get my Windows .NET applications onto the server to install? Transfer them with FTP and then install them using Remote Desktop access?

Thanks

[Robert]

1.) You will want to make sure to lower the TTL for each domain you want to move so the lookup time is lower. Give this a few days and make sure all of the mail accounts exist on the new Windows server. From there, on your old server, download anything you want to save. Shut down the mail server. Change the DNS over to point to the new server. You might even change the zone file to specify the new IP as well.

2.) Well, you can upload via FTP and then install via RDP. Or you can just RDP to the server and download it directly from it either by installing a FTP program or downloading it via IE inside the server.

Hope that helps!

[edge]

Thanks.

Another question.

If I use Apache on Windows, will Plesk support this? Will I be able to create virtual hosts, install SSL certificates thru Plesk - or will I have to do these manually.

I will have to think about this some more. I am not an expert on server administration. I am a programmer.

[edge]

I have decided to stick with Linux. I am getting used to command line.

I am going to rewrite my .NET apps to Java or Mono and use CRON to execute them.